Microsoft on Tuesday said its longstanding partnership with the Federal Government has delivered digital training to over four million Nigerians since 2021.
The disclosure was made by Nonye Ujam, Director for Government Affairs at Microsoft for West Africa, during a media roundtable in Lagos.
Ujam said the milestone underscores Nigeria’s commitment to thriving in the digital economy. She added that recent figures show 350,000 individuals have actively participated in Microsoft’s specialized student programmes, with 63,000 completing specific training pathways and 43,000 receiving global certification.
The executive also announced additional training for 350,000 Nigerians in Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills as part of Microsoft’s National Skills Initiative (AINSI).
Apart from the federal government, Ujam said the initiative is carried out in collaboration with Data Science Nigeria and Lagos Business School. She added that the milestone reaffirmed Microsoft’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s digital landscape by upskilling five million citizens.
“Microsoft is equipping developers for the future through developer-focused programmes, creating a strong pipeline of technical talent. Through government-driven initiatives like Developers in Government (DevsInGov) and the Three Million Technical Talent Initiative (3MTT) led by the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, public sector developers have gained new skills,” Ujam explained.
According to her, about 645 participants have been trained in analytics and AI integration, while another 1,000 developers learned advanced skills in areas such as DevOps, machine learning, and data science.
“These efforts are helping Nigeria’s workforce prepare for the future by advancing AI fluency across the digital ecosystem,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana Country General Manager, Mr Abideen Yusuf, said Nigeria’s current AI adoption rate stands at 8.7 per cent, slightly below the Sub-Saharan average of 10 per cent.
Yusuf highlighted that Africa’s Gross Domestic Product is projected to gain $1.5 trillion from AI by 2030 and stressed the importance of equipping Nigeria’s youth population, with a median age of 18 years, to lead in this sector.
“Nigeria cannot afford to wait. AI is reshaping every sector, and the countries that move fastest on skills will lead. We are focusing on three key areas: frontier (innovation), infrastructure (connectivity and power), and most importantly, skills,” he said.
Yusuf added that by collaborating with the government to equip leaders, developers, and tech users, Microsoft is building a future-ready workforce and helping Nigerians adopt and adapt AI technology responsibly.
Mrs Olayinka David-West, Dean of Lagos Business School (LBS), said the partnership had successfully trained 99 public sector leaders from 58 agencies. She stressed that AI skills must go beyond technical knowledge to include governance and risk management, enabling leaders to make informed decisions about AI safety, ethics, and applications such as credit access and agricultural improvements.
“AI skilling is no longer optional for Nigeria’s digital future; it is the foundation of the nation’s competitiveness. Equipping leaders and citizens with AI capabilities is essential for driving inclusive growth, innovation, and national transformation,” David-West said.
She noted that a significant percentage of Nigerian graduates still lack digital skills and highlighted the importance of workforce readiness. The second phase of Microsoft’s AINSI in Nigeria aims to reach one million citizens over three years, embedding AI skills across all sectors of the economy.
Dr Bayo Adekanmbi, Founder of Data Science Nigeria, represented by Business Lead Mr Aanu Oyeniran, said the programme’s structure ensures grassroots reach. With Microsoft’s support, 38 training partners nationwide have been empowered with infrastructure to remove barriers to learning.
Adekanmbi said AI readiness requires coordinated investment across government, developers, educators, and communities. “True digital transformation happens when the entire ecosystem moves forward together,” he noted.
Microsoft reaffirmed its commitment to making AI broadly accessible and doing so responsibly, with the mission to empower every person and organization to achieve more.
